The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has announced a $27 million gift from the Paulson Family Foundation in New York City in support of the Rachel and Selim Benin School of Computer Science and Engineering.

The gift will support construction of a fourth building within the school on the Edmond J. Safra Campus in Givat Ram, Israel, which will include approximately 75,300 square feet of special laboratories, teaching rooms, office space, and computer stations.

“Israel’s quality higher education is largely responsible for the country’s technology boom and rapid economic development,” said John Paulson, president of global investment company Paulson & Co. and founder and chair of the family foundation. “This gift will ensure that the Hebrew University has the resources to meet the growing demand for computer science and engineering education.”

“Over the last decade, we have increased threefold the number of students at the School of Computer Science and Engineering,” said Hebrew University president Asher Cohen. “The current complex, which comprises three buildings, will be at full capacity by the end of 2024. Construction of this fourth building will enable us to meet the huge demand for the outstanding high-tech personnel that the university produces. The Paulson Family Foundation’s generous donation will allow us to continue supporting the Israeli high-tech industry in the best possible way.”

(Photo credit: Footballkickit at English Wikipedia, Creative Commons by 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)